This Time in Timberline

by Jennifer Morey

  And Timberline.

  ###

  "How long has it been since you last saw Mason?"

  Utah put her scone down, taking her time chewing since the mention of Mason's name made her lose her appetite. He'd become a presence in her mind that she wished she could learn to live with. She swallowed.

  "Eight months," she told Andy, looking around Henry's Coffee. Eight months, two weeks, and three days. But he already knew that.

  Ever since then, he'd made it a habit to take her here for coffee and scones. They'd become regulars. Utah was sure that was because he'd seen what Mason's betrayal had done to her. He kept tabs on her, made sure she was all right. Of course, she was.

  Andy sipped his coffee, looking at her over the rim. She began to get the feeling he was up to something.

  "I talked to him again," he said.

  "At least he talks to somebody," she couldn't stop herself from saying.

  "He just got back from a mission in Pakistan."

  "How nice for him." She pretended to scan the café again. Sheldon looked up from the paper and smiled with a nod. She lifted her mouth into an appearance of a smile.

  "No phones and all."

  Raising her eyebrows, she turned back to Andy. "Is there something you're trying to tell me?"

  "Just that he wasn't around any phones and couldn't call."

  He looked way too innocent to mean that casually.

  "He made that choice on his own."

  "That he did." He sipped his coffee again. "He asked about you."

  An annoying zap of hope rippled through her. She wished he'd stop talking.

  "Wanted to know how you were doing. Asked if you were mad."

  Utah narrowed her eyes and dropped her scone onto the small plate in front of her. "He had to ask?"

  "No, he pretty much knows you are." He chuckled, shaking his head.

  "It doesn't matter. I'm past that." And she was. Mostly she was just disappointed. He'd disappointed her. Deeply.

  "He needed to find his way, Utah. I think going back to work did that for him."

  "That's very nice, Andy. You must be so relieved." She knew he'd understand she referred to Mason's tragic mission.

  "It's something he had to do. He needed closure."

  "Uh huh." When was he going to stop talking about Mason?

  "All I'm saying is I think he finally has that."

  Mason had closure. More annoying hope tried to push through her new, hard wall. "Good for him."

  "He knows now that going on missions won't bring back those people who died."

  She angled her head at him, trying to tolerate his persistence.

  "And that Timberline isn't so bad after all," he continued.

  "Andy, why are you rambling so much?"

  He performed his usual play of nonchalance that he wasn't really all that good at. "Just telling you about my conversation with Mason."

  Well, I don't want to hear it, she wanted to say. She never wanted to hear his name again. Wished she could expunge him from her mind and heart. Wished she didn't have to worry about running into him here, on those few and far between visits.

  "I also wanted to tell you something before it got around town," Andy said.

  Oh, great. Now what?

  "I'm getting married."

  That she hadn't expected. "What? When did this happen? Who are you marrying? When did you meet her?" He'd sure been secretive about it.

  "Her name is Hanna. She doesn't live in Timberline. I met her a while back when she came through here on vacation. We kept in touch, and she came to see me during the festival."

  Utah smiled. "A long distance relationship, huh? That's one way to avoid gossip around here. What did you do with her at the festival?"

  "She was there, and I spent time with her. I was just careful, lest I risk scaring her away."

  Utah laughed softly. "I'm really happy for you."

  "I hope to say the same to you some time soon, Utah."

  If not, she wasn't going to let it get her down. She had enough going on in her life that a man wasn't the end-all. And she had Andy. "You're like a dad to me, you know that?"

  "And you my daughter." He checked his watch. "One I'll have my hide torn if I don't get you over to your golf course."

  Her ground breaking ceremony was today. Standing, she put on her jacket. April in the Rockies was never warm, especially when the wind blew.

  Andy followed her out of the coffee shop. He'd made a big deal over her groundbreaking day. Invited the whole town and made a celebration out of it. After a brief ceremony at the site, he'd reserved Holly's Restaurant for a lunch. No protesting on her part swayed him.

  Andy drove her across town. Thoughts of Mason lingered. Would he have called her if he had been able to? She didn't think so. Andy had said he'd found closure. That hadn't happened overnight. And his mission had lasted seven months, a mission that had just ended. Would he call her now?

  For most people, hope was a positive feeling. For her, it was her downfall. Hope for anything in relation to Mason was detrimental to her well-being. It made her feel desperate. Obviously, if he had wanted to call her, he would have. And he'd called Andy, not her. Just like always.

  She reached the corner of Second and Main. Across the street, the Over Easy Café was dark and a big Timberline Realty sign hung in the window. Megan had lost her business and now waitressed at Velma's. Rumor had it that she was planning to move to Denver. Where once Utah had been the scandal of Timberline, now Megan was.

  Utah wasn't sure how she felt about that. Vindication didn't settle well with her. She avoided Velma's because she cared about intruding on Megan's dignity. She refused to rub in her fall from grace, or appear gloating. Utah wasn't gloating. Actually, she felt sorry for Megan and wished her greater happiness wherever she decided to go. She thought she should stick it out in Timberline. Everyone would get over what she'd done, especially if Utah forgave her. In fact, Utah was tempted to make her an offer to reopen that stupid café. Timberline just wasn't the same without it.

  Arriving at the ground breaking site, Utah started for the crowd. A dark blue Volkswagen pulled up beside her in the parking area and Roanne rolled the window down. She was back from Vegas.

  "How was the trip?"

  "Wait for me. I have something to tell you." To Andy, she called, "We'll catch up to you."

  He tipped his cowboy hat and headed for the crowd.

  Roanne parked and got out of her car. Couldn't news about her trip wait until after the ceremony? She checked her watch. She had two minutes. People were looking her way, having noticed her arrival.

  Roanne trotted up to her. When Utah started for the crowd, Roanne stopped her.

  "Hold on."

  "What's up?" Her friend looked perky today.

  "Keegan and I eloped."

  Startled with that news, Utah was struck with an initial stab of jealousy followed by affront that Roanne hadn't told her. "Really?" She hadn't invited her.

  "Don't be mad. We both didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I didn't want to get married here." Her stance became repentant. "Charlie and all."

  "But you got married, Roanne. I would have liked to be there."

  "I didn't even have a dress. I wore jeans. So did Keegan. It was just the two of us and a crusty old fart in a lime green suit." She laughed. "I have pictures."

  Pictures didn't cover it. Not nearly enough. Utah was hurt.

  "We flew to Las Vegas and got hitched at the Venetian."

  "I'm glad you had a good time."

  "Oh, Utah. Stop. We would have eloped no matter what I told you."

  That was rather strange. "Why didn't you tell me?" She looked for Keegan and didn't see him in the parking area. "Where's your husband?"

  "Already here."

  Something in the way she smiled clued Utah that there was more. She searched the ground breaking site for Keegan.

  Roanne hooked her arm with hers. "What are you going to say?"

&
nbsp; Distracted, Utah didn't reply. She hadn't prepared anything because she didn't want to make a big flare out of this. Seeing the area where she'd break ground, she saw a shovel leaning against a podium. Ribbons streamed from the canopy. It was cloudy today and might snow. Andy had done a fantastic job with the preparations.

  "What does Andy want me to say?" Utah finally answered.

  "Just say a few lines about community and prosperity and shovel a pile of dirt. Everybody will want to get out of the cold, so you don't have to talk too long."

  "Good. This was all his idea anyway."

  "I know."

  Utah noticed her smile and had the same feeling she'd had with Andy. Were they up to something?

  Utah went to standing by Andy, who wore a smile similar to Roanne's. He had something under his sleeve for today. What was it with him and Roanne? In the distance, construction equipment waited for Monday morning to arrive. She couldn't wait to hear all the noise.

  The time had passed to begin, so Andy stepped up to the podium.

  "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for indulging me and coming out on this chilly morning to share this milestone for Timberline. Whether you play golf or not, whether you have a business that will thrive from the increased number of tourists or not, Brentwood Golf Course will benefit everyone. We're more than a mining town. We're a resort town, thanks to the ingenuity and class of a very special woman."

  Utah could have done without the accolades.

  "It is with great pride that I hand the podium over to Utah Pieper. We're all glad you decided to move back home, Utah."

  The crowd applauded and Utah stepped up the podium. She opened her mouth to begin and froze. Among the throng of faces watching her, she spotted Mason's. He was here! The same jolt of recognition that had struck her at her mother's funeral slammed her now. He finished clapping with everyone else, smiling in a way that convinced her Andy had known and they'd planned this. Roanne, too.

  She and Keegan had eloped. Of course, she'd known. And kept it from her.

  Her pulse jumped. Her mind whirled. Love and anger tore at her. How dare he waltz back into town as if he hadn't left without saying goodbye and had been gone for months? He hadn't even called on Christmas!

  "Uh...thank you," she managed to say. She looked down at the microphone and struggled to gather her wits. "This golf course wouldn't be possible without Arthur Brentwood. I am grateful his memory will stay alive here." She looked up at the crowd, butterflies stirring nerves in her stomach as she once again saw Mason. He wore faded jeans and hiking boots with a Black Northface jacket. He was cleanly shaven and his hair was combed. She couldn't see his eyes from here, but could tell he looked at her.

  Quiet murmurs began to spread.

  "Uh...." She looked down at the microphone again. "I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to bring a golf resort to Timberline, both to increase tourism and to benefit Timberline. I'll be offering special packages for residents. I hope you all have a chance to enjoy a few strokes. I know I have."

  The crowd fell silent and then a few snickers of laughter broke out.

  "Will. I know I will," she amended, feeling her face flush when she remembered the way Mason had used the word when they'd golfed together.

  "Thank you again." She turned from the podium and lifted the shovel. Moving to the area Andy had outlined with ribbon, she jammed the shovel in the dirt and flung a pile a short distance from the hole.

  The crowd cheered and clapped. Utah turned an accusatory look on Roanne, and then Andy. With trembling hands, she leaned the shovel against the podium and headed toward town. She'd walk to Holly's. Maybe she'd skip the lunch altogether! She was so mad right now!

  Roanne intersected her first. "Andy made me, I swear."

  Andy was next. "I wanted to surprise you. So did Mason."

  "I'll bet he did!" She marched faster.

  "Utah-"

  "Don't expect me at the hotel!" Tears clogged her throat. She reached the edge of the parking area.

  Andy followed. "Utah, I knew you'd react like this. So did Mason. That's why we didn't tell you."

  She stopped and rounded on him, forcing him to dig his heels into the gravel to prevent bumping into her. "Why is he here?"

  "I came back for you."

  Utah's entire body stiffened with a dreadful flinch. She closed her eyes.

  "That's why I didn't tell you," Andy said.

  She opened her eyes, feeling, seeing in her peripheral vision, Mason. Andy moved aside and Mason took his place in front of her. Roanne and Ellie hovered a few feet away, the others beginning to gather around her.

  "I knew you'd be upset," Mason said. "I'm sorry."

  Slowly she moved her eyes. Up Mason's jacket to his face. Those green eyes. They looked at her with such starved earnestness she fumbled with her resolve. His nearness suffocated her and she couldn't say it was unpleasant. IT was that awful hope again.

  He shook the zipper of his jacket, parting it, showing her his shirt underneath.

  She saw the deputy badge and stared. He was a deputy sheriff now? Where?

  "I deputized him yesterday," Andy said.

  Utah couldn't move her gaze from the badge. He'd come back. For good this time. He'd take over as sheriff as Andy had wanted. He'd decided all of this and not told her. She'd thought of him constantly and he'd toyed with her. Anger simmered to the surface.

  "Am I supposed to be glad?" she whispered in Mason's face, more of a hiss.

  "Utah."

  Andy backed away until he reached the edge of the crowd, who watched with avid interest, some murmuring to the person next to them, others smiling or smothering laughter over the entertainment.

  She pointed at Mason, jabbing his chest not far from that damn badge. "You stay away from me." With that she stomped to the street and headed for home. She heard footsteps behind her.

  "I had to do it, Utah," Mason said.

  "No, you didn't."

  In front of Burl's BBQ, he jogged in front of her and blocked her path. She tried to go around him but he cupped her shoulders in his hands.

  "How would you have reacted if I'd have called you?"

  "I'd have been mad."

  "Exactly."

  "You could have come to see me in person. In private!"

  "You'd have run away, just like you're trying to do now. In front of a crowd, you couldn't run."

  She saw the sincerity in his eyes and crumbled a little. "It was too easy for you to go. It was easy for you."

  "No. Walking away from you was never easy."

  She slapped her hands against his jacket. "Don't give me that shit!" She curled her hands into fists and banged on him harder. He let her. "It's been months! Months, you...you...jerk!" She banged one last time.

  Breathless, eyes blurred with tears, she didn't care if her broken heart showed. "You didn't even say goodbye. You didn't say goodbye." Tears rolled down her face. "What did you expect me to think?"

  "That I didn't care. I do care, Utah. I always have. But if I'd have said goodbye, I wouldn't have been able to leave. Both times. And both times, I had to go. I'm sorry, Utah. If I hadn't gone, I wouldn't have realized the Army isn't what I need most. I wouldn't have realized what gives me the most peace. It's you. It's always been you."

  "Stop it. I don't want to love you anymore. I want to hate you! I want to forget I ever knew you!" She sobbed.

  Mason pulled her against him. "I didn't want to love you, either. But I do." He pressed his lips to hers.

  Utah turned her head away, crying harder, crying because she loved him. "I don't believe you."

  "I'll have plenty of time to convince you." He kissed her near her ear, then her cheek, and used his hand to tip her face up to kiss her mouth. "I'm never leaving you again."

  "I'm tired of being disappointed," She said against his lips.

  "I promise on my mother's grave that I'll never leave you." He kissed her again. "I promise. As long as I breathe, you'll be by my side."


  Utah sniffled, resisting his sweet words, words she'd longed to hear. "Stop it. You don't mean it."

  "I love you," Mason repeated, kissing her more, soft, chaste kisses that were melting her resolve.

  "Damn you." With her head still tipped, she stopped crying and made the mistake of looking into his eyes.

  He used his thumbs to wipe her tears. "I love you, angel. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'll never do that again. If you give me a chance."

  Another chance. She crumbled some more. "You don't deserve another chance."

  "Maybe not. But I'm asking you to give me one."

  "You have to put me first. I come first in all things."

  "You do." He kissed her again. "You will."

  "Prove it."

  He looked around. "Here?."

  She swatted his chest. "No. Marry me. Right now. Pastor John is in the crowd that's watching us. Let's ask him to marry us."

  Instead of the shock and fear she expected, she saw amusement in Mason. "Now?"

  She hesitated. What was she doing? "Yes. Right now."

  He chuckled. "It's a little sudden, but I was going to ask you at Holly's anyway."

  "You were?"

  This was beginning to feel like a dream.

  "Yes."

  "You were going to ask me to marry you. Today."

  "Yes. Let's do it." He glanced to his left. "In front of that tree."

  She blinked a few times, startled. Apprehensive. Her heart cried, yes! Her mind was a little more sluggish. "Really?"

  He took her hand and led her there, to the tree where he'd kissed her fifteen years ago and again at her mother's funeral.

  Waiting for the crowd to gather, Mason knelt down on one knee.

  "Mason..."

  "Will you marry me, Utah?"

  She stared at his handsome face. This couldn't be real. Running her gaze to the faces of Timberline, all of them lit with joy, she was assured this was real.

  Her gaze landed on Megan. Instead of animosity, she looked upon Mason and Utah with peaceful resignation.

  Say yes, Megan mouthed. Standing beside her, Ellie didn't have to speak her approval, it was all over her smile and in her eyes. Utah smiled at both of them and laughed. What more did she need?